I haven't written in a long time... I'll try to catch up with. It's been busy lately!
A couple weeks ago I had an experience that I've reflected on over and over. We were dispatched to a call involving a guy who had recently been released from prison - and is well known to us. He is an alcoholic, meth addict with a high potential for violence. We knew that he was on a meth binge but had not been able to find him. His mother called 911 and said he was out of control. I was 1 mile away and the other Deputy was 12 miles away.
We were updated that he was now at a relative's house and causing trouble there. It's best if a few of us can arrive on a scene like that at the same time. The first one there will usually stop a few blocks short and wait for the others to arrive. As I was getting close, I called for an update on the suspect's location and was told that he was out in the yard just yelling and hollering. The relatives were inside their house with the door locked so I stopped and waited for the other units.
A few minutes later dispatch told me the suspect was now arguing with his mother out in the yard and the person giving the "play-by-play" was afraid that the suspect was going to hurt his mother. I couldn't wait any longer... backup was still 5 miles away.
I turned onto their road and sped up towards the scene. I remember a calm, peaceful, highly focused feeling come over me. His mother had retreated to her house and I could see the suspect pacing back and forth across the road throwing his arms in the air. The whole world seemed to melt away and it was just him and me.
He moved to the left side of the road, a fence at his back, and took an aggressive stance as I sped towards him. I veered my car toward him and cut the wheels to the left to put the front of my car between us - I just wanted 2 seconds to get out of my car before the fight began. This caused him to move (I think he thought I was going to run over him) into the middle of the road and gave me time to get out of the car.
As soon as I got out he started walking towards the front of my car as if to come at me.
I told him to stop right there, turn around and get down on his knees.... and to my surprise he did exactly that. He stopped instantly, turned around, dropped down to his knees and put his hands on top of his head. I was shocked and stunned. I know I probably stood there with a surprised look on my face. As I had driven up that road and saw the way he was acting I had already decided that I would hit him with the Taser (which is a one shot device) and if that didn't work then I would have shot him. I fully expected him to be violent and attack me - but he didn't. He did exactly what I told him to do.
I came out of my stupor when I heard a voice in my right ear say, "Handcuff him, handcuff him." I moved forward, got him into handcuffs, and searched him. It was still just the two of us. As I stood him up, the other Deputy and a Highway Patrol Trooper were just pulling up. It was over.
Stuff to think about:
#1. When I told him to turn around and get on his knees, his response was immediate. Two seconds before that, he had been doing "the fighting monkey dance" on the side of the road getting ready to fight me and all of a sudden he was down on his knees with his hands on his head. What had happened? I don't believe I was alone as I went up that road. I believe a legion of angels went with me. I don't know if he could see them, but he acted like he did. He either saw them or felt their commanding presence because the change in his behavior was like nothing I'd ever seen before.
#2. Who's voice did I hear? I was so surprised by his compliance that I stood there somewhat dumbfounded. The whole thing is captured on my dash-cam and as soon as he drops down on his knees, there's a long pause. That's when I heard the voice, specifically from behind me and to my right side telling me to get the handcuffs on. I didn't see anyone else, but someone from the invisible world was there with me.
#3. Initially I thanked God for protecting me. I do believe a legion of angels backed me up out there and I'm grateful for their help and to God for sending them. But on further reflection, it has occurred to me that while they protected me from the suspect, their presence also protected him from me. I planned on trying the Taser, but if that didn't work (and they often don't) then it would have been a fight to the death - or serious harm.... and that's a fight I would have won. I would have killed him. It never came to that because he did exactly what I told him to do, but without the my unseen helpers, I don't believe he would have been so compliant.
Through my law enforcement service, I've come to learn that God loves all of us the same. He loves the violent, alcoholic, meth addict just as much as He loves me. He didn't want either one of us getting hurt or killed. It doesn't always turn out this way, but I'm always thankful for the times it ends well.
Conclusion:
Like I said before, I've reflected on this experience many times in the days since it happened. I marvel at how perfectly happened. Nothing could have been better. Everyone who has heard about it, especially all the people who know they guy I arrested, can't believe it. They can't believe that he was so compliant.
It was perfect.... not because of me, but because of God. I know that I'm never alone and I know that God will be with you as well - if you invite Him. He doesn't force His way into our lives, but if we want Him there, He is there for us. Thank you Father... and thanks to the angels who watch my back!
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